One by one, kindergartners walk up to a box, looked inside, and saw their reflections in a mirror. Students in Marianne Devine’s class at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District knew they were being introduced to an author, they just didn’t know it would be them.
It was a fun way to start a new Writer’s Workshop unit. The class read “The Library Mouse,” a book about a mouse that lives in the children’s section of a library, reads so much and decides to write books himself. Just like the library mouse, it was time for kindergartners to shift from readers to writers.
Ms. Devine handed each student a small booklet of blank pages and charged them with creating a book about one of their interests, a memorable experience or something they know how to do. Just like most children’s books, she encouraged them to include illustrations with their stories.
Each child keeps a writing folder with their completed works throughout the year. That folder also includes an inspiration page, with pictures that reflect the students’ interests to give them ideas for writing topics.